Planning a vacation has always been a bit challenging for the kosher consumer, but one new Crown Heights-based startup has made it easier than ever before.
Popularly known as the “Airbnb of the kosher world,” Kvation is the brainchild of Yossi Schtroks, an entrepreneur and the proud beneficiary of Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs (CHYE)’s L8 mentorship program.
Long before Yossi launched Kvation, which provides detailed kosher apartment rental listings and on-the-spot booking that allow users to book their entire vacation with a click, he was a yeshiva bochur who wanted to travel.
That’s when he came up with an idea for a website that would help people find and book apartments with kosher kitchens all over the world and Kvation was born.
Of course, startup life is never easy and Yossi soon encountered obstacles such as a lack of funds, ruthless competition, and long hours. On top of all that, Yossi was married with a new baby, living in Brooklyn with a high cost of living, and unable to cut himself a paycheck. The failure of his first startup venture before Kvation was also on his mind.
That’s when he turned to CHYE L8 and its dynamic mentorship program for help.
Under the careful guidance and direction of Yehuda Berg, CHYE’s mentorship program works closely with new entrepreneurs, matching them up with experienced business leaders in the community who serve as their mentors on a strictly volunteer basis. Since it was launched 12 years ago, CHYE’s mentorship program has helped hundreds of anash entrepreneurs find their path to success.
Through his one-to-one in-person meetings with Yehuda Berg, Yossi Schtroks gained valuable insights that helped his business survive and ultimately thrive. Yehuda Berg helped Yossi cut his liabilities and trim expenses so that he could focus on his business full-time and give it the effort it needed. He also helped Yossi negotiate effectively with potential investors and prepared Yossi and his family for the long road and work ahead of them as Yossi grew his business.
“The mentorship program was extremely helpful,” said Yossi Schtroks. “I think the mentoring was actually the major difference between why my first business failed and my current business is succeeding. You can only learn so much from classes and coaches; there’s no substitute for working side-by-side with a mentor who has actual business experience and can take you under their wing. I’m very grateful and now I’m confident I can take my business to the next level.”
“Baruch Hashem, I’ve been zoche to council many startups, but results depend on how much effort my clients put in,” said Yehuda Berg. “I can say the same thing to many different people, but the successful ones are the ones who actually do the work and take the messages to heart as Yossi has done. I appreciate Yossi’s kind words and am very proud of all he has accomplished.”
“At CHYE, we’re blessed to have volunteer successful business people in the community giving of their time and sharing their wisdom,” said CHYE founder, Rabbi Yehoshua Werde. “Everyone should take advantage of this opportunity!”
Are you interested in starting a business or taking your business to the next level? Fast-track your growth by learning from someone successful who has been where you are now. Visit: https://www.level8.org and find your mentor today!
Special Thanks to Fello and Ainsworth Gorkin LLP for making the Mentorship Program Possible
Al pi halacha, can one trust that an oven is kosher when renting a place that is officially rented to kosher travelers?
You can just kasher it in case it’s not hard if the oven is properly cleaned and has no food residue
# kvation.com it’s amazing!!!
It’s so exciting to see people taking the innovation of Air bnb – considered by many to be a major contributor to housing shortages – and bringing it to directly to the Jewish community.
Thankfully, frum communities worldwide are immune to the housing pressures felt elsewhere, and our housing is abundant and inexpensive.
It’s wonderful to see such innovation – at the small cost of sacrificing scarce housing meant for locals, vacationers can live like locals!